METUCHEN — The borough served up a slice of Americana this morning for those gathered for the community's 85th annual Memorial Day parade.

And as usual many did, with hundreds lining Main Street to see the restored Army jeeps, fire trucks, vintage cars and marching bands.

"This is like our parents had. There's nothing like it — a small-town parade," said Jan Margolis, parade committee chairwoman.

In recognition of the country's ongoing involvement in war, three high school students who have enlisted in the military were honored alongside veterans during the post-parade ceremony at Metuchen Memorial Park.

A total of five high school seniors are entering boot camp, and one junior has been accepted into the National Guard, Mayor Thomas Vahalla said.

"I feel really honored to be here," Youssef Wassef, 18, a Navy recruit, said before the ceremony. He said he is the first member of his family to enlist. "I always thought about it."

"It was an easy decision for me," Jean Carlos Wilhelm, a 17-year-old senior who also is the first from his family to enlist.

The theme of today's ceremony was women's contribution to the military, and featured eight female grand marshals from World War II through Operation Enduring Freedom from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Retired Army Lt. Col. Jeanne Marie McNamara recounted the history of women's service to the strides of the present day, noting women this month were given permission to serve in tank battalions and infantry for the Marines and Army.

She also praised the young people from Metuchen and Edison schools who are making the military their career choice.

"In these times of war when paying the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom may become a reality, these are not easy decisions to make for these young people," she said.

Edgar School 8th grader Divina Tanamai won the school district poster contest, beating out 400 others, for her rendering of weathered boots and footsteps, a flag and a sunset. "Your steps to freedom will never be forgotten," the poster's title said.

"People make a big deal of celebrities dying, like Whitney Houston, when there are soldiers who are dying every day," she said.

The parade and ceremony were organized by the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce, and paid for by donations. Everybody was invited back to American Legion for free hot dogs and root beer.

"Celebrations like this don't happen in every community," said Hazel Shue, chaplain and a retired US Navy lieutenant commander. "I going to give you homework - tell at least one person where you were today and why you were here. Spread the message so nobody ever forgets."

This was Martin's Jessen's 10th parade appearance, displaying in a truck the nearly 200-pound suit he wore as a deep sea salvage diver during World War and Korea for the Navy. He talked about his grandson, Jonathan, who took after him and enlisted in the Navy, and was aboard a nuclear-powered sub today.

"This is important for our country," Jessen, 85, said of the parade as he waited in an empty lot that served as the staging area. "Nothing brings the community together like a parade."